Rigid Ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is a monocot weed in the Poaceae family. In South Africa this weed first evolved resistance to Group D/22 herbicides in 2002 and infests Fruit, and Grapes. Group D/22 herbicides are known as PSI Electron Diverter (Photosystem-I-electron diversion). Research has shown that these particular biotypes are resistant to paraquat and they may be cross-resistant to other Group D/22 herbicides.

The 'Group' letters/numbers that you see throughout this web site refer to the classification of herbicides by their site of action. To see a full list of herbicides and HRAC herbicide classifications click here.

Field, and Greenhouse trials comparing a known susceptible Rigid Ryegrass biotype with this Rigid Ryegrass biotype have been used to confirm resistance. For further information on the tests conducted please contact the local weed scientists that provided this information.

Genetics

Genetic studies on Group D/22 resistant Rigid Ryegrass have not been reported to the site. There may be a note below or an article discussing the genetics of this biotype in the Fact Sheets and Other Literature

Mechanism of Resistance

The mechanism of resistance for this biotype is either unknown or has not been entered in the database. If you know anything about the mechanism of resistance for this biotype then please update the database.

Relative Fitness

There is no record of differences in fitness or competitiveness of these resistant biotypes when compared to that of normal susceptible biotypes. If you have any information pertaining to the fitness of Group D/22 resistant Rigid Ryegrass from South Africa please update the database.

The Herbicide Resistance Action Committee, The Weed Science Society of America, and weed scientists in South Africa have been instrumental in providing you this information. Particular thanks is given to Andrew Cairns, and Erik Eksteen for providing detailed information.

Agricultural weeds have rapidly adapted to intensive herbicide selection and resistance to herbicides has evolved within ecological timescales. Yet, the genetic basis of broad-spectrum generalist herbicide resistance is largely unknown. This study aims to determine the genetic control of non-target-site herbicide resistance trait(s) that rapidly evolved under recurrent selection of the novel lipid biosynthesis inhibitor pyroxasulfone in Lolium rigidum. The phenotypic segregation of pyroxasulfone resistance in parental, F1 and back-cross (BC) families was assessed in plants exposed to a gradient of pyroxasulfone doses. The inheritance of resistance to chemically dissimilar herbicides (cross-resistance) was also evaluated. Evolved resistance to the novel selective agent (pyroxasulfone) is explained by Mendelian segregation of one semi-dominant allele incrementally herbicide-selected at higher frequency in the progeny. In BC families, cross-resistance is conferred by an incompletely dominant single major locus. This study confirms that herbicide resistance can rapidly evolve to any novel selective herbicide agents by continuous and repeated herbicide use. The results imply that the combination of herbicide options (rotation, mixtures or combinations) to exploit incomplete dominance can provide acceptable control of broad-spectrum generalist resistance-endowing monogenic traits. Herbicide diversity within a set of integrated management tactics can be one important component to reduce the herbicide selection intensity..

The study aimed to determine the usefulness of isothermal calorimetry and FT-Raman spectroscopy for the early evaluation of rigid ryegrass resistance to fenoxaprop-P ethyl (active ingredient one of aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides). The calorimetric measurements were done on the 4-day-old seedlings of susceptible and resistant biotypes of rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Goud.) for 72 h, at 20°C. It was observed that the specific thermal power-timecurves of the susceptible and resistant biotypes growing on water (control) were qualitatively similar. Herbicides changed the shape of the specific thermal power-time curves of both biotypes. Furthermore, the total specific thermal energy was significantly higher for the seedlings of resistant biotype, growing both on water or herbicide, as compared to the susceptible ones. The analysis of the seedlings' endosperm, conducted using FT-Raman spectroscopy, showed a weaker intensity of the bands in the spectra derived from the resistant biotype. Differences in the specific thermal power-time curves and FT-Raman spectra between susceptible and resistant biotypes growing on water indicate that the sensitive and resistant biotypes are metabolically and chemically different already in the early stages of the seedling growth. We conclude that isothermal calorimetry and FT-Raman spectroscopy are efficient tools for the early detection of rigid ryegrass resistance to fenoxaprop-P ethyl..

Resistance to the acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicides in Lolium rigidum is widespread in grain cropping areas of South Australia. To better understand the occurrence and spread of resistance to these herbicides and how it has changed with time, the carboxyl transferase (CT) domain of the ACCase gene from resistant L. rigidum plants, collected from both random surveys of the mid-north of Southern Australia over 10 years as well as stratified surveys in individual fields, was sequenced and target site mutations characterised. Amino acid substitutions occurring as a consequence of these target site mutations, at seven positions in the ACCase gene previously correlated with herbicide resistance, were identified in c. 80% of resistant individuals, indicating target site mutation is a common mechanism of resistance in L. rigidum to this herbicide mode of action. Individuals containing multiple amino acid substitutions (two, and in two cases, three substitutions) were also found. Substitutions at position 2041 occurred at the highest frequency in all years of the large area survey, while substitutions at position 2078 were most common in the single farm analysis. This study has shown that target site mutations leading to amino acid substitutions in ACCase of L. rigidum are widespread across South Australia and that these mutations have likely evolved independently in different locations. The results indicate that seed movement, both within and between fields, may contribute to the spread of resistance in a single field. However, over a large area, the independent appearance and selection of target site mutations conferring resistance through herbicide use is the most important factor..

Populations of rigid ryegrass with resistance to glyphosate have started to become a problem on fence lines of cropping fields of southern Australian farms. Seed of rigid ryegrass plants that survived glyphosate application were collected from two fence line locations in Clare, South Australia. Dose-response experiments confirmed resistance of these fence line populations to glyphosate. Both populations required 9- to 15-fold higher glyphosate dose to achieve 50% mortality in comparison to a standard susceptible population. The mechanism of resistance in these populations was investigated. Sequencing a conserved region of the gene encoding 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase identified no differences between the resistant and susceptible populations. Absorption of glyphosate into leaves of the resistant populations was not different from the susceptible population. However, the resistant plants retained significantly more herbicide in the treated leaf blades than did the susceptible plants. Conversely, susceptible plants translocated significantly more herbicide to the leaf sheaths and untreated leaves than the resistant plants. The differences in translocation pattern for glyphosate between the resistant and susceptible populations of rigid ryegrass suggest resistance is associated with altered translocation of glyphosate in the fence line populations..

Background: Glyphosate resistance in populations of the C4 perennial Sorghum halepense (Johnsongrass) and C3 annual Lolium rigidum (rigid ryegrass) has evolved and been documented in many cropping areas around the globe. In S. halepense and in the majority of reported cases in L. rigidum the glyphosate resistance trait has been associated with a mechanism that reduces glyphosate translocation within plants. Here, the significant decrease in the glyphosate resistance level when resistant plants of S. halepense and L. rigidum are grown at suboptimal cool temperature conditions is reported. Results: Lowering temperature from 30 to 19°C in S. halepense and from 19 to 8°C in L. rigidum significantly reduced both plant survival and above-ground biomass produced by glyphosate-resistant plants. Thus, glyphosate resistance parameters significantly decreased when glyphosate-treated resistant plants of both species were grown under non-optimal temperature conditions. The results suggest that the resistance mechanism against glyphosate damage is less efficient at optimal growing temperatures. Conclusion: It is possible to increase the control of glyphosate-resistant S. halepense and L. rigidum populations by treatment with glyphosate during growing conditions at suboptimal low temperatures. Conversely, glyphosate failure will continue to occur on glyphosate-resistant populations treated during periods of higher temperatures..